Major in Behavioural Neuroscience

Behavioural neuroscience, offered through the Department of Psychology, is the general study of the relations between the structure and activity of the brain and its function in generating integrated, adaptive behavioural responses.

WHAT YOU CAN BECOME This degree is excellent preparation for further training in health professions such as medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology.

Students pursuing a B.Sc. with a major in behavioural neuroscience will normally take the following courses in first year.

Sample Program

Semester I

Semester II

Biology 1001

Biology 1002

Chemistry 1010 (1050)* or Physics 1020 (1050)**

Chemistry 1011 (1051) or Physics 1021 (1051)

Mathematics 1000 (or 1090)***

Mathematics 1001 (or 1000)***

Psychology 1000

Psychology 1001

English 1080

English 1101, 1102, 1103 or 1110

* Students registered in Chemistry 1050 must also be registered in Mathematics 1000 (not 1090).

** Students registered in Physics 1050 must also be registered in Mathematics 1000 (not 1090).

Behavioural Neuroscience (Co-operative) majors should take Biology 1001 and Chemistry 1010 (1050) in the fall semester, and Physics 1020 (1050) and Chemistry 1011 (1051) in the winter semester.

***Students completing Mathematics 1090/1000 will be required to complete Mathematics 1001 as well.

Notes:

1. Admission to the program is competitive and selective. To be eligible you must have completed 24 credit hours with an average of at least 65 per cent in Psychology 1000/1001 and an overall average of at least 60 per cent in the following courses:

Meeting these minimum criteria does not guarantee admission to the program.

2. Students intending to major in behavioural neuroscience must submit a departmental application form to the Psychology Department by June 1 for fall semester. The application form is availablehere.

3. Students should think carefully about whether to take Chemistry 1010 and 1011, Chemistry 1050 and 1051, Physics 1020 and 1021, or Physics 1050 and 1051. In particular, students should examine the prerequisites for other courses to see which courses best suit their interests and program of study. Picking one of these sequences may restrict your options later on.